Anchoring devices for well tools



April 23, 1958 1. W. TAMPLl-:N 3,379,257

ANCHORING DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS Filed oct. 14, 1965 s sheets-sheet 1 vao 151 f 1//60 /g /153 192 192 -152 193v` 143- --mo 4L i 141/ 190. 11412 16u 1U1 f a 1142/n U 2" 11d- 191 1 v 2o? l4\' 11a [20 l/5 121: H322 53 nl {2/9 [32` I 104 L g1? 131 13o; */112 5- 24 /00 ,l ,02 l

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INVENTOR M Jack W. Tumplen v BY l M f April 23, 1968 Filed Oct.. y 14,1965 .1. W4-TAMPLEN ANCHORING DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2Fig.4

. INVENTOR Jock W. Tamplen Fig.5

April 23, 1968 J. w. TAMPLl-:N

ANCHORING DEVICES FOR WELL TOOLS s sheets-sheet 's Filed Oct. 14, 1965 nm M D. O mWVw O A T W.

May

Unit

3,379,257 ANCHGRENG DEJECES FUR WELL TGGLS Sack W. Tamplen, Celina,Tex., assigner to (itis Engineering Corporation, Dallas, rliex., acorporation of Delawr "e Filed (let. i4, i965, Ser. No. 495,910 14Claims. (Cl. 16o- 137) ABSTRACT F THE DlSCLQSURE This invention relatesto well tools and more particularly relates to an lanchoring device forlocking a body against movement within a flow conductor.

An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved anchoringdevice.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedanchoring and sealing device.

It is a particularly important object of the invention to provide ananchoring device having pressure energized slips which are bothexpandable into tighter engagement with and are releasable from asurrounding surface by forces exerted in the same direction.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an an- Chorin@7 devicehaving a locking slip assembly including members having adjacentfragmentary conical surfaces which are in full engagement or fullyseated against each other when the slips are fully expanded and whichare only partially seated with each other when the slips are contractedto their normal inward positions.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring deviceincluding interconnected slips and Slip shoes which move longitudinallyas a unit during the initial phases of locking while the slips movelaterally or radially independent of the slip shoes during the latterphases of locking.

It is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring devicehaving slip operators which when moved longitudinally toward the slipsinitially move the Slips and slip shoes as a uni* then laterally expandthe slips independently of the slip shoes, and when moved away from theslips are withdrawn from within the slips to ermit inward retraction ofthe slips.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring deviceincluding expandable slips held around a frusto-conical expandingsurface by first lateral springs connected between the slips positionedon opposite sides of the expanding surface and urged toward the base ofthe surface by a second longitudinally compressible and expandablespring.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide an anchoring devicehaving slips which are forced into tighter engagement with a surroundingsurface by upward force on the mandrels of the device and are releasableby an upward force applied to the fishing neck ofthe device.

It is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring andsealing device having an annular sealing element which after an initialseal is established with a surrounding surface is further expanded by .afluid pressure applied either above or below the element.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an anchoring andsealing device for sealing above a well device in a tubing section andholding such well device against upward movement within the tubing.

d States Patent O icc It is still a further object of the invention toprovide an anchoring and sealing device useful as a member of a pack-offassembly for isolating leaks in a section of tubing to reestablish flowthrough the tubing.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the reading of the following description of a deviceconstructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to theaccompanying drawings thereof, wherein:

FlGURES l and 1A taken together constitute a longitudinal view partiallyin section and partially in elevation of an anchoring and sealingdevi-ce constructed in accordance with the invention;

FGURE 2 is a slightly reduced exploded perspective view of a slip, aslip operator, and a slip expander used in the device of FIGURES l andlA;

FGURE 2A is a perspective view of a slip retainer spring used in theanchoring and sealing device;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FiGURE 4 is a reduced fragmentary side view in elevation illustrating aslip, a slip operator, and a slip shoe as viewed through a side windowin the locking sleeve of the anchoring and sealing device;

FIGURE 5 is a reduced fragmentary longitudinal view partially in sectionand partially in elevation illustrating a running tool engaged on theupper mandrel and fishing neck of the anchoring and sealing device;

FIGURE 6 is a reduced fragmentary view in section illustrating theanchoring and sealing device at `an intermediate state in its operationshowing the sealing element expanded and a slip expanded to a positionof initial contact with a surrounding surface; and

FIGURE 7 is a reduced fragmentary view in section similar to FIGURE 6showing the fully expanded position of one of the slips.

Referring to the drawings, the anchoring and sealing device 20 embodyingthe invention includes a. mandrel 20a comprising an upper mandrelsection 21, a middle mandrel section 22 th-readed on a lower end section23 of the upper mandrel section, and a bottom mandrel section 24threaded on a lower end section 25 of the section 22. A slip assembly 28is supported on the mandrel 20a for lateral expansion and contraction toreleasably engage the anchoring and sealing device with a surroundingsurface such as an inner wall 29 of a tubing section 3l). An annularseal assembly 3l is supported `on the middle mandrel section for radialexpansion to seal with the tubing wall around the device. A longitudinalbore 32 extends through the mandrel to allow fluid flow throughout theentire length of the device. A tubular sleeve shaped fishing neck 33fits in sliding relationship around the upper mandrel section forsupporting the device during its installation and removal and forexpanding and releasing the slip assembly. The threaded lower endsection 34 of the bottom section serves to connect the device with awell tool or object which the device serves to seal above and holdagainst upward movement within the tubing Sil.

The slip assembly 28 includes two laterally expandable and contractableslips 35 which are yielda-by interconnected by two hairpin shapedtransversely acting springs 40, Each of the slips is supported on a slipshoe il and a slip operator 42. The slips and their respective slipshoes and operators are positioned in ISO-degree circumferentiallyspaced relationship on the cylindrical outer surface of the upperVmandrel section 21 and a frusto-conical expander surface 43 of theupper end section 44 of the middle mandrel section. Each of the slips islaterally or radially movable through a side window 45 formed in anoperator sleeve Sil which is threaded on a lower reduced end section 51of the fishing neck 33 end extends downwardly over portions of the upperand middle mandrel sections.

Each slip shoe 41 has an upper inner fragmentary cylindrical sur-face 52corresponding to the outer surface of the upper mandrel section 21 and alower inner fragmentary conical surface 53 corresponding to the outerfrusto-conical expander surface 43 on the middle mandrel section. Asshown in FIGURE 2, two fragmentary frange sections 54 and 55 are formedon the lower end of the slip shoe in spaced-apart relationship toprovide a slot 60 to receive a portion of a slip to interlock the slipshoe with its slip as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. Theouter surface 61 of each slip shoe is a fragmentary conical surfacewhich lies parallel to the inner fragmentary conical surface 53 of theslip shoe.

The upper portion 62 of the inner surface of each operator 42 is afragmentary cylindrical surface corresponding with the outer surface ofthe upper mandrel 21 while the llower inner surface portion 63 of theoperator is a fragmentary conical surface corresponding with the surface61 on the slip shoe. An upper end flange 64 is formed on each operatorproviding an upper end surface 65 which is engagea-ble by the uppersurface 70 of the operator sleeve 50 defining the upper end of thewindow 45 `in which the operator is positioned. The opposite ends of theflange 64 extend outwardly from the main body of the operator to formthe lateral ears or lugs T1 and 72- which are received in the lateralend recess portions 73 and 74, respectively, of the window 45 to limitlongitudinal and rotational movement of the slip operators relative tothe operator sleeve. The outer surface 75 of each. slip operator is afragmentary conical surface corresponding to the fragmentary conicalinner surface 80 of each of the slips 35. The outer portion of each ofthe slips is provided with a plurality of horizontal teeth 81 which areformed in a fragmentary cylindrical surface so that when the slips areexpanded the edge of each tooth will fully engage the inside cylindricalsurface 29 of the tubing 30. A downwardly extending lug or tongue 82formed on the lower end of each of the slips is received in the slot 60of the supporting slip shoe. An inwardly extending lip or boss 83 on thelug 82 hooks over the lower end of the slip shoe within the slot 60 tohold the slip against upward movement relative to the slip shoe.Similarly, each slip is held against downward movement on its shoe bythe ange sections 54 and 55 which engage the lower end of the slip oneach side of the lug 82. The vertical side edges of each of the slipshas a horizontal blind hole 84 which receives a hooked or bent end 85 onone of the springs 40 for interconnecting the spring and the slip.

Each of the hairpin springs 40 comprises an upwardly extending V or abight section 90 having an apex 91, horizontal sections 92, and the endsections 85 which are bent perpendicular to the sections 92 into ahorizontal plane which extends perpendicular to a plane passing throughthe V-section 90. Each of the two springs is positioned alongcorresponding side edges of the oppositely located slips 35 with an endsection 85 received in each hole 84 of the slips and the V-portion 90 ofeach spring extending substantially longitudinally along the outersurface of the mandrel section 21 spanning the space between the slipsso that the combined action of the two springs 40 holds each slip andits respective slip operator and shoe on the outer surface of the uppermandrel section and the conical expander surface of the middle mandrelsection. The operator sleeve 50 is concentrically positioned around andspaced from the upper mandrel a suicient distance to provide afragmentary annular space 93 within the sleeve around the mandrel abovethe expander surface 43 on the sides of the slip. Each space 93accommodates the portions 90, 91, and 92 of one of the springs 40. Aportion of each section 92 of each spring 40 adjacent to and connectingwith an end section S of the spring is positioned within an enlargedseetien or side recess 94 fic of its window 45 allowing bothlongitudinal and lateral movement of the springs 40 during expansion andcontraction of the slips. The inward force applied to the slips by thesprings 40 biases each slip and `its operator and shoe inwardly andupward-ly along thc sloping expander surface 43.

The frusto-conical surface 43 along with the fragmentary conicalsurfaces on the Slip shoes, slip operators, and slips are all so shapedthat when the slips are fully expanded as in FIGURE 7, the adjacentcontacting conical surfaces are fully engaged with each other. Forexample, the inner conical surface 53 of each slip shoe engages theconical expander surface 43 and the inner conical surface 63 of eachslip operator engages the outer conical surface 61 of the adjacent slipshoe as do adjacent surfaces of the slips and operators. Obviously, withthese conical surfaces so contoured that they are in full en gagernentwith each other when the slip assembly is fully expanded the surfacesare out of register or do not fully Contact each other when the slipsare in the retracted position as illustrated in FIGURE l. This lack ofregistry between the conical surfaces on the different portions of theslip assembly results from the fact that inthe retracted positionsurfaces having unequal radii are aligned while in the fully expandedposition the conical surfaces are so aligned that each set of contactingadjacent conical surfaces have equal radii and thus will fully seat withor engage each other. Such relationship of adjacent surfaces of thevarious slip assembly components is desirable when the slips are fullyexpanded so that there is an essentially solid connection providedbetween the mandrels ofthe anchoring and sealing device and the insidesurface of the tubing to provide better support for holding the toolagainst upward movement.

The bore 95 through the fishing neck 33 is enlarged along a lower endsection 96 `forming a downwardly opening annular recess 100 around theupper mandrel section 21 to receive a spring 101 which is closed andground at its lower end 102. The apex 91 of each spring 40 extends intothe annulus 100 to engage the lower end 102 of the spring 101 andcompress the spring so that the force of the spring bears against theupper end of each of the springs 40 to bias them and the slips in adownward direction relative to the mandrels and the frusto-conicalsurface 43. The relative strengths of the spring 101 and the springs 40are such that while the springs 40 bias the slips inwardly and upwardlyalong the expander surface 43, the spring 101 acting through the springs40` overcomes the springs 40 to an extent sufcient to maintain the lowerends of the slip lugs 82` against the surfaces 102 of the operatorsleeve defining the lower ends of the windows 45 until the slips moveinto contact with the inner surface 29 of the tubing 30.

The seal assembly 31 includes an annular flexible sealing element 103 ofsynthetic rubber or other suitable material moulded around upper andlower ring-shaped anti-extrusion members 104.The `sealing element has anormal outside diameter somewhat smaller than the internal diameter ofthe tubing string so that it will pass readily through the bore of atubing string in which the anchoring and sealing device is to beinstalled. The sealing element is generally tubular in shape having abore 105 which is enlarged along its central portion to provide aninternal annular recess 106. The upper end of the bore of the sealingelement is flared outwardly at and the lower end of the bore is likewiseflared outwardly at 111. The sealing element is conned on the middlemandrel section 22 between an upper end section 112 of the bottommandrel section 24 and an external annular flange 113 of an expandersleeve 114 which fits in sliding relationship around the middle section22 extending above the sealing element into the operator sleeve 50. Theexpander sleeve has a plurality of upwardly extending fingers 1146iwhich are sufficiently flexible to spring inwardly to facilitateengagement of the expander sleeve within the operator sleeve.

An internal annular recess 115 is formed within the flange 113 toreceive an O-ring 126 and a spacer ring 121 which has at least oneradially or laterally extending ilow passage 121e to permit fluid toflow from around the mandrel into the annuiar recess 115 around theoutside of the O-ring 120 so `that fluid pressure around the mandrelbelow the O-ring is communicated to the outer surfaces of the O-ring andtends to force the O-ring inwardly around the mandrel elfecting a sealbetween the mandrel and the yupper end surface of the recess 115 toprevent upward fluid flow past the O-ring along the mandrel. Pressurealong the mandrel above the O-ring, however, tends to displace theO-ring outwardly farther into the annular recess 115. Fluid may thusflow downwardly past the O-ring 120 when the pressure above the O-ringexceeds the pressure therebelow but may not flow upwardly along themandrel past the O-ring when the pressure below the O-ring exceeds thepressure thereabove.

The lower end outer surface 122 of the liange 113 is inclined inwardlyand downwardly connecting with an annular frusto-conical depending wedgesurface 1113 on the lower end section of the expander 114 to engage theupwardly and outwardly flared surface 111i of the sealing element 1G39whereby liuid pressure from above the sealing element may displace theupper portion of the element outwardly and liow within the bore of theelement into its annular recess e.

An internal annular recess 124 is formed within the upper end section112 of the bottom sub 2d to receive the O-ring 125 and the spacer ring136. The spacer ring has at least one radially extending passage 131ewhereby the combination with the O-ring 125 functioning in the same wayas the O-ring 121i and the spacer ring 121 prevents downward flow alongthe external surface of the lower mandrel past the O-ring while upwardflow from below the O-ring along `the surface of the mandrel ispermitted.

The upper end surface 131 of the bottom section is inclined upwardly andinwardly connecting with an upwardly extending annular frusto-conicalwedge surface 132 on the upper end section 112 of the bottom sectionwhich engages the iiared surface 111 of the sealing element 103 to allowfluid flow from below the sealing element to displace the lower portionof the sealing element outwardly and flow into internal annular recess166 of the sealing element. When pressure below the sealing elementexceeds the pressure thereabove, pressure from below the sealing element163 enters the bottom mandrel section through a lateral port 133, passesupwardly through an annular space 13d between the bottom mandrel and themiddle mandrel section above the port 133. The uid lpressure from belowthe sealing element 163 displaces the O-ring 125 away from the lowermandrel and is communicated past the ruste-conical section .132 into theinternal annular recess 106 expanding the sealing element against thesurface surrounding the sealing element. Similarly, when pressure abovethe sealing element exceeds the pressure therebelow, the pressurethereabove, which is communicated to the upper inner surfaces of theupper O-ring 12) through any spaces between the mandrel and the expandersleeve 11d, moves the O-ring out of sealing engagement with the mandrel.The iiuid pressure is thus communicated past the frusto-conical surface123 into the annular recess 106 and expands the sealing element. Thesealing element is thereby adapted to seal against a iiuid pressuredifferential across the element with a higher pressure either above or-below the element tending to improve its sealing relationship with anadjacent surrounding surface with which it is sealing. The seal assembly31 is described, illustrated, and claimed in a copending United Statespatent application of the inventor, Ser. No. 374,046.

Each of the upwardly extending flexible fingers 114a of the expandersleeve 114- ha-s an external boss 14) at its free end providing adownwardly facing external shoulder 141 which is engageable with aninternal annular ange 142 Iformed at the lower end of the operatorsleeve 50 to hold the expander sleeve 114 against downward movementrelative to the operator sleeve. Each of the ngers 11de also is providedwith an internal upwardly and inwardly facinnr shoulder .143 engageablewith an external annular shoulder 144 `formed around the middle section22 to limit the upward movement of the expander sleeve on the mandrel.The flexibility of the lingers 114:1 permits them to be cammed inwardlyso that the bosses 14) pass within the internal flange 142 to facilitateengaging the expander sleeve within the operator sleeve.

The operator sleeve 56 is telescoped over the middle mandrel section 22and the expander sleeve .114 and is provided with an internal annularfiange 15Go providing an upwardly facing shoulder 145 which isengageable with an external downwardly facing annular shoulder aroundthe middle mandrel section to limit the upward movement of the operatorsleeve relative to the mandrel. An internal annular recess 151 is formedin the bore of the operator sleeve below the flange 1594 andcommunicates with a larger internal annular recess 152. The internalannular upwardly and inwardly extending cam shoulder 153 defines theupper end of the recess 152 between the connecting recesses 151 and 152.

A plurality of lock segments 154 are confined within the annular recess152 between the annular shoulder 153 and the upper end 155 of theexpander sleeve 114. The lock segments are substantially rigid memberswhich may be either metal balls or short segments of a metal ring havingan internal diameter approximately equal to the external diameter of themiddle mandrel below the shoulder 144 and an external diameter slightlyless than the diameter of the annular recess `151. The lock segments arecircumferentially spaced around the mandrel with a sufficient numbervbeing employed to permit even application of force from the operatorsleeve Sti to the upl er end of the expander sleeve 114 through the locksegments. The lock segments are held radially outwardly in the recess152 by the outer surface 161) of the middle mandrel and are confinedlongitudinally between the cam shoulder `153 of the operator sleeve andthe upper ends 15'5 of the fingers 11da. The internal annular flange 142of the operator sleeve is engaged with the downwardly facing shoulders141 of the lingers 11d-a. The operator sleeve and the expander sleeveare thus longitudinally interlocked with each other. The operatorsleeve, the lock segments, and the expander sleeve move downwardlytogether until the lock segments reach the shoulder 144 whereupon thelock segments are cammed inwardly -by the shoulder 153 around thesmaller diameter middle mandrel surface 161 releasing the operatorsleeve to telescope farther downwardly over the expander sleeve with theinternal surface of the operator sleeve defining the recess 151 passingdownwardly over the lock segments to hold them around the surface 161.

The operator sleeve `Sii is provided with two access holes 1.7i)circumferentially spaced apart degrees around the sleeve to correspondwith the circumferentially spaced blind radial holes 171 extending intothe middle ysection 22. During assembly of the anchoring and sealingdevice a suitable Spanner wrench, not shown, having an inwardlyextending lug is engaged on the operator sleeve with its lug extendingthrough one of the holes 1711 and into one of the blind holes 171 tohold the middle mandrel section against rotation relative to theoperator sleeve to facilitate making the necessary threaded connectionsfor assembly of the device.

The fishing neck 33 is provided at its upper end with an externalannular iiange 180 forming a downwardly facing external annular shoulder181 for engagement of a suitable fishing tool utilized in unlocking andremoving the device from a tubing string, as will be explainedhereinafter. An upper end section 18u of the upper mandrel section 21 isenlarged providing a downwardly .facing external annular shoulder 191.External tangentially extending recesses 192 are formed in the upper endsection of the upper mandrel to receive .shear pins employed in theconnection of a running tool with the anchoring and sealing device. Thebore of the upper mandrel is enlarged along an upper end section i913providing an upwardly facing internal annular shoulder 194 whichprovides a seat surface to limit downward movement of a well tool, suchas a choke or similar apparatus, not shown, which may be supported bythe device 20 during its operation within a well.

FIGURE illustrates a running tool 2&0 which is secured in telescopicrelationship over the fishing neck 33 and the upper end section 190 ofthe upper mandrel 23. `for supporting the device during installation andfor actuatingy the slip assembly 2S and the seal assembly 31 to engagethe device in la tubing section. The running tool has an upper threadedpin section 201 for securing the tool in the lower end of a wire linetool string as illustrated and described at page 3742 of the CompositeCatalog of Oilfield Equipment & Services, 1964-65 edition, published -byWorld Oil, Houston, Texas. The running tool includes a sleeve section202 which is provided with a downwardly opening bore having an uppersection 203 adapted to t in sliding relationship over the upper endsection 190 of the upper mandrel of lthe device y2() and a larger lowerbore section Ztl-'l which tits in sliding relationship over the externalannular flange 13G of the lfishing neck 33 on the device 20. An internalannular downwardly and inwardly facing shoulder ZtiS is formed withinthe sleeve 202 at the junction of the bore sections 203 and 204. Thelower end surface 2@ of the sleeve 2d?. is engageable with the upwardlyfacing external annular shoulder 33a around the fishing neck to limitthe downward movement of the sleeve 262 over the fishing neck. Aninternal annular shoulder 211 is formed within the sleeve 262 at theupper end of the bore section 263 to engage the upper end 19th: of theupper mandrel 21. to limit the downward movement of the sleeve over themandrel. The sleeve 262 is provided with two tangentially extendingholes 212 which are circumferentially spaced 180 degrees around thesleeve yfrom each other and intersect the bore section 2&3 forming twointernal tangential recesses 213 each of which receives a shear pin 214to interlock the ruiming tool with the device 2G. Each shear pin isinserted through a tangential hole 212 of the operator sleeve andextends through a recess i213 of the operator sleeve and a tangentialrecess 192 in the upper end section of the upper mandrel 21 for lockingthe running tool on the upper end section in telescopic relationshipover the anchoring and sealing tool 2t! as shown in FIGURE 5. The holes215 extend through the sleeve 262 of the running tool downwardly andinwardly from the base of the reduced head section 220 into the boresection 203 to permit iluid connmunication through the running tool withthe bore 32 of the device 20 for relieving any pressure dierential whichmight develop across the anchoring and sealing device when inserting thedevice into and removing it from a fluid-tilted tubing string.

One application of the anchoring and sealing device 2i) is as acomponent of a pack-oli anchor assembly within a tubing string tostraddle and pack-od a hole or holes in the tubing so that fluid-now maybe continued through the tubing without removing and replacing thetubing. One such pack-oil assembly is illustrated and described at page3673 of the Composite Catalog and Oileld Equipment & Services, supra. lnthe installation shown in the reference the anchoring and sealing tool26 is substituted for the top type G Otis pack-ofi assembly. The type DOtis collar stop lock is first run into the well on a suitable Wire linetool string and locked in the first collar connection within the tubingstring below the holes to lbe isolated by the pack-off assembly. Thebottom type G Otis pack-off assembly is then connected on the lower endof the spacer pipe and the anchoring and sealing device {Zt} is securedon the upper end of the spacer pipe by a suitable pipe coupling threadedon the lower end of section 34 of the bottom mandrel section 24 of thedevice 29. The running tool 2% shown in FIGURE 5 is then telescopicallyengaged over the upper mandrel section 21 and the lis'hing neck 33 untilthe lower end 210 of the running tool sleeve engages the upper shoulder33a of the fishing neck. The shear pins 214 are inserted through theholes 212 and the recesses 213 within the running tool sleeve and 192 ofthe upper end section of the upper mandrel 2'1 to interlock the ruimingtool and the device Ztl.

The running tool is connected by means of the threaded pin 201 to asuitable wireline tool string and lowered in the tubing string 3l?.During the lowering or the device 2G' the fishing neck 33 remains in theupper position. illustratcd -in FIGURE, 1 due to the operativeinterconnection betwen `the running tool and the upper mandrel 21 'whichis held against longitudinal movement in the running tool by the shearpins 214. The lower end of the sealing element N3 now bears against theupper end of the bottom mandrel section. The expander sleeve lil/ isresiliently supported against downward movement by the upper end of thesealing element 1183 while the operator sleeve 5t) is interconnectedwith the expander sleeve by the lock segments 154. The shing neck isthreaded into the upper end of the operator sleeve holding the fishingneck in its upper position since the Weight of the expander sleeve, theoperator sleeve, and the shing neck. is not Suliicient to compress thesealing element.

The slip assembly 28 is held in the retracted position shown in FIGUREIl by the engagement of the lower end of each slip tongue S2 with theoperator sleeve surface 102 dening the lo 'er end of its respectivelateral window 45. The operator sleeve is supported in an upper positionas described above. The hairpin springs 40 hold the slips, the slipoperators 42, and the slip shoes 41 inwardly around the upper 4mandrel21 and the expander surface 43 while the spring 161 bearing against theupper ends 91 of the springs `ad bias the slips and associated membersdownwardly along the mandrel and expander surfaces with the slips beingheld against the surfaces 1102.

The assembly including the anchoring and sealing device 20, the spacerpipe, and the bottom type G Otis pack-olf assembly -is lowered on thewireline tool string until the lower end collet fingers of the bottompack-ofi assembly engage the internal shing neck in the upper end of thecollar stop lock. When the bottom pack-off assembly is engaged with thecollar stock lock the bottom pack-off assembly is held by the stop lockagainst downward movement so that` further downward force exerted by thewireline tool string theretoithrough the mandrel 2da of the device 20expands the sealing element of the bottom pack-off assembly. The seatingof the :bottom pack-off assembly against the stop lock holds thepack-ofi assembly against downward movement while the force is beingexerted by the tool string against the.

runnin gtool 29? to sever the sl ear pins 214. The mandrel 2da is nowheld against downward movement by virtue of its rigid connection withthe spacer pipe which is held against downward movement by the bottompack-oli assembly engaged with the collar stop lock.

After the pins 21d have been sheared, the mandrel or' the tool 20remains held against downward movement for the reasons just explainedwhile the released sleeve 262 of the running tool 266 telescopesdownwardly over the upper mandrel section 21 and the lower end 210 ofthe running tool engages the shoulder 33a on the fishing neck 33 forcingthe shing neck in a downward direction relative to the upper mandrelsection. As the shing neck moves downwardly, the operator sleeve Si) isalso forced downwardly. The interconnection of the expander sleeve 114and the operator sleeve Sil through the lock segments 154 causes theexpander sleeve to move downwardly with the operator sleeve. As theexpander sleeve 114 moves downwardly the lower end surface 122 of thesleeve engages the upper end of the sealing element 163 to compress theelement and expand it radially while its lower end is held by engagementwith the -upper end surface 131 of the bottom sub 24. The outer surfaceof the sealing element engages and seals with the inner surface 29 ofIthe tubing 3ft as shown in FIGURE 6.

The operator sleeve 5) acting though the lock segments 154 forces theexpander sleeve downwardly until the lock segments reach the annularshoulde` 144 on the lower mandrel at which time the annular cam shoulder153 of the operator sleeve cams the lock segments inwardly around thesurface 161 of the middle mandrel and out of the internal annular recess152 releasing the operator sleeve for downward movement over theexpander sleeve and locking the expander sleeve in the lower positionshown in FIGURE 6. ri`he sealing element 103 is expanded sufciently toeffect a fluid tight seal with the tubing but is not overcompressed oroverexpanded. The inner surface of the operator sleeve defining therecess 151 holds the lock segments radially inwardly around thc reducedsection 161 of the middle section 22 and the segments are confinedlongitudinally between the downwardly facing annular shoulder 144 on themiddle section and the upper ends 155 of the expander sleeve fingers 11Mholding the expander sleeve against upward movement and locking thesealing element 1113 in radially expanded sealing relationship with thetubing inner surface 29.

Preferably, the slip assembly 2% and the seal assembly 31 are sointerrelated that when the lock segments 154 move out of the recess 152the sealing element is in fluid tight engagement with the tubing surfaceand the slips 35 are expanded laterally suiciently to make initialcontact with the tubing surface. When the above described downwardmovement of the locking sleeve 5@ is initiated, the surface 7 0 definingthe upper end of the window 45 in the operator sleeve engages the upperend 65:' of each slip operator d2 to move the operator downwardly withthe operator sleeve. The springs it? bias the slips inwardly withsufficient force that the frictional resistance against sliding betweenadjacent surfaces of each slip and its operator and slip shoe causesthem to move simultaneously as a unit downwardly and outwardly along theexpander surface 43 until the slip teeth Contact the tubing surface. Theareas of the adjacent contacting surfaces of the slip operators and theslips and slip shoes are greater than the contact areas between the slipshoes and the expander surface 43 so that the smaller area of surfacecontact between each slip shoe and the expander surface permits eachslip shoe to slide along the expander surface with no relativelongitudinal motion occurring between each slip and its operator andslip shoe. During initial expansion of the slips until they engage thetubing surface the spring 161 is not compressed since there is norelative longitudinal movement between the operator sleeve and eachslip. During the initial movement of the slip assembly in its expansionfrom the position shown in FIGURE l to the position of FIGURE 6 thelower end of each slip remains in engagement with the surface 1G?.defining the lower end of the window 45 in the operator sleeve 513. Asthe operator sleeve moves downwardly, the inner conical surface of eachslip shoe moves along the expander surface 43 to move each shoe and itsoperator and slip radially outwardly. With the lateral expansion of eachshoe, operator, and slip, the fragmentary cylindrical surfaces 52 and 62of each slip shoe and operator, respectively, move laterally away fromthe outer surface of lthe upper mandrel 21 to the spaced apart positionshown in FIGURE 6. Thus, when the initial phase of the downward movementof the operator sleeve 523 is completed, the slips are expandedoutwardly into initial Contact with the inner wall of the tubing and thesealing element 103 is expanded and locked in expanded position by thelock segments 154 which are held between the shoulder 144 and the upperends of the lingers 114:1 on the expander sleeve 114.

With the lock segments 154 cammed inwardly by the surface 153 releasingthe operator sleeve Si) to move farther downwardly, a further downwardforce .transmitted from the running tool through its lower end 210against the upper shoulder 33a of the fishing neck 33 forces theoperator sleeve farther downwardly to continue the expansion of theslips into locking engagement with the tubing. The downward forceapplied to the operator sleeve is transmitted to the upper end 65 ofeach slip operator d2 through the respective surface '70 of the operatorsleeve defining the upper end of the window 45 in which the operator ispositioned. The downward force of the operator sleeve wedges eac-h slipoperator between the back surface of its slip and the outer surface ofits slip shoe. The teeth 81 on each slip engage the Wall of the tubingholding the slips against downward movement lalong the tubing as theresistance against downward movement of the slips due to the teethbiting into the tubing wall is greater Ithan the friction between eachslip and its operator while the operator is wedged between the slip andthe slip shoe. Therefore, each slip openator is driven downwardlybetween its slip and slip shoe expanding each slip farther outwardly tofirmly engage the tubing. The downward movement of the operator sleeveSi) over the mandrel sections is limited by the running tool Zut?. Therunning tool forces the shing neck 33 downwardly about the upper mandrelsection until the internal `annular shoulder 211 within the running toolsleeve 24.12 engages the upper end 19% of the upper mandrel section. Asthe operator sleeve and the slip operators move downwardly and each slipis held against downward movement wedging its operator between it `andits slip shoe, the operator sleeve thus moves downwardly relative to theslips so that the lower end surface 102 of the operator sleeve window 45moves downwardly to a position below the lower ends of the slips asillustrated in FIGURE 7. The lip 83 on each slip engages its respectiveslip shoe to hold the shoe against downward movement as its slipoperator is wedged between the slip and the shoe. The wedging of theoperator member between the slip and the shoe effects the lateralexpansion of the slip moving the slip farther away from the slip shoe asshown by comparison of FIGURES 6 and 7. The longitudinal space betweenthe upper end of each slip and the ange 64 on its operator issubstantially closed by the downward movement of the operator relativeto the slip. The length of each slip operator is preferably such thatits slip will be fully expanded prior to engagement between the flange64 on the operator and the upper end of the slip.

As the operator sleeve 50 moves downwardly after release by the inwardmovement of the lock segments, the operator sleeve telescopes downwardlyover the expander sleeve to the position shown in FIGURE 7. The lowerend of the operator sleeve does not engage the flange 113 on theexpander sleeve and therefore does not move the expander sleevedownwardly. The seal element 1113 thus is mechanically expanded .andlocked in the expanded state when the lock segments release the operatorsleeve.

During Ithe downward movement of the iishing neck and the operatorsleeve 5i? between the positions of FI"- URES 6 and 7 while the operatormembers are being wedged behind the slips and the slips are held againstlongitudinal movement, lthe fishing neck telescopes farther downwardlyover the upper end 91 of each spring 49 compressing to the `spring 101farther into the annulus 10E'. In its compressed state as shown inFIGURE 7 spring 101 supplies a substantial downward force to the springs4) biasing the slips downwardly and outwardly along the outer surfaces75 of the slip operator members providing a constant expanding force tot-he slips to resist 11 any tendency for them to disengage from thetubing surface.

FIGURE 7 illustrates both the slip assemblies 23 land the sealingassembly 31 in their fully expanded positions within the tubing. Anupward force exerted against the bottom sub 24, the sealing assembly, orthe mandrel, is transmitted to the slip assembly wedging the slips intotighter engagement with .the tubing. The frusto-conical expander surface43 on the middle section transmits the upward force lto the downwardlyand inwardly sloping fragmentary conical surfaces on the slip shoes, theslip operators and the inner surfaces of the slips forcing the slipsoutwardly more tightly against the tubing. Simultaneously, the forcefrom the compressed spring 101 acting through the hairpin springs urgesthe slips along the downwardly and outwardly tapered surfaces of theslip operators into tighter engagement with the tubing wall.

Fluid pressure below the sealing element 163 is applied through the port133 into the annular space 134 displacing the O-ring 125 outwardly inthe recess 124 allowing the pressure to pass upwardly into the annularrecess 166 of the sealing element 163 further expanding the sealingelement against the inner tubing surface 29. The pressure from below thesealing element also is transmitted along the middle mandrel upwardlythrough the bore lti of the sealing element7 within the flange 113, andoutwardly into the annular recess through the radial flow passages inthe spacer ring 121. The pressure in the recess 115 forces the O-ring120 inwardly and upwardly and against the mandrel and the annularsurface of the expander sleeve defining the upper end of the recess 115to seal the space between the mandrel and the bore through the expandersleeve 114. Thus, when the pressure below the sealing element exceedsthe pressure above it the sealing element is further expanded and thepressure is transmitted only up to the O-ring 124i.

When the pressure above the sealing element 193 exceeds the pressurebelow the element the pressure passes the O-ring into the annular recess166 within the sealing element to further expand the element outwardlyagainst the tubing wall. The higher pressure from above the sealingelement is prevented from moving downwardly along the middle mandrelbeyond the O-ring 125 as the pressure moves through the lateral passagesin the spacer ring to urge the O-ring inwardly around the middle mandrelsealing between the mandrel and the bore through the upper end sectionof the bottom mandrel.

The seal assembly 31 is therefore effective to seal against a pressuredifferential from either above or below the seal asembly while the slipasembly 33 is self-energizing in that a force increase against the sealand the mandrels tending to move them upwardly tends to further expandthe slips against the wall of the tubing.

When the expansion of the seal assembly 31 and the slip assembly 28 iscompleted in the above described manner the wireline tool string islifted in the tubing string raising the ruiming tool 20G from the top ofthe tool 2). Since the pins 214 were sheared prior to expansion of theseal element 193 and the setting of the slips of the tool, the sleeve202 of the running tool is not held against upward movement relative tothe device 29 and thus may easily be lifted from the top of the device.The device 20 then remains locked within the tubing until it is desiredto remove it.

To remove the device 20 from the tubing, a suitable pulling tool such asan Otis type PJ pulling tool shown at page 3746 of the Composite Catalogof Giliield Equipment & Services, supra, is engaged on a wireline toolstring. The pulling tool engages the shoulder 181 of the fishing neck 33so that an upward movement imparted to the pulling tool causes thefishing neck to move upwardly to lift the operator sleeve 5G whichinitially moves upwardly from the position shown in FIGURE 7. When thelower end of the recess 151 moves above the lock segments 154 they arecammed outwardly into the recess 152 due to their engagement with theupwardly and out wardly extending shoulder 144 of the middle mandrelsection by the upward force applied from the compresed sealing element193 acting through the expander sleeve 114. The upper ends of thefingers 114a force the lock segments against the upwardly and outwardlysloping shoulder 141i causing the lock segments to be cammed outwardlyinto the recess 152 ywhich has now moved into alignment with the locksegments with the shoulder 153 being slightly above the lock. segmentsso that the segments may move radially outwardly into the recess 152. Atabout the same time, the upwardly facing shoulder provided by theinternal tiange 142 of the operator sleeve 50 engages the downwardlyfacing shoulder 141 0n the fingers 114.1 and further lifting of theoperator sleeve 55.9 lifts the expander sleeve 114 allowing the sealingelement 103 to expand longitudinally and contract radially inwardly awayfrom the tubing wall. Fluid trapped in the cavity of the seal 133escapes between the seal and the frusto-conical surfaces 123 or 132.

As the locking sleeve is lifted to relieve the force on the seal element1&3, the slip assembly 28 is also being retracted from the tubing. Thelugs 71 and 72 on each of the slip operators are received, respectively,in the recesses 73 and '74 of the side windows in the operator sleeve sothat upward movement of the sleeve lifts each of the slip operators todisengage them from their wedged position between the slips andthe slipshoes. When the operator sleeve is at the longitudinal position that thelock segments 154 are cammed outwardly into the recess 152 to releasethe seal element 163,` the slip operators are lifted to the positionillustrated in FIGURE 6. The lifting of the fishing neck 33 by thefishing tool also raises the internal shoulder 33h at the upper end ofthe annulus 1li@ allowing the spring 101 to expand reducing the force ofthe spring 101 against the upper ends of the hairpin springs 4G so thatthe hairpin springs may retract the slips inwardly to the positionsshown in FiGURE 6. When the fishing neck and the operator sleeve havebeen moved upwardly to the position of FIGURE 6, the slips are retractedsufficiently that they are either just slightly touching the wall of thetubing or are spaced apart from the wall and no longer in locltin'1rrelationship with the tubing. The lower end surfaces 162 of the window45 of the operator sleeve are each engaging the lower end of itsrespective slip. The upward force applied by the fishing tool on thefishing neck is continued, lifting the fishing neck and the operatorsleeve upwardly until the upwardly facing shoulder of the operatorsleeve 5@ engages the annular shoulder of the middle mandrel section 22as shown in FGURE 1. The upward movement of the operator sleeve from theposition shown in FIGURE 6 back to the position of FIGURE l forces theslips and their operators and shoes upwardly along the expander surface43 and the springs is@ move them to the positions of FIGURE 1 so thatthe slips are fully `retracted into the side windows of the operatorsleeve and the anchoring and sealing device 20 is completely releasedfrom'the tubing and may be lifted by the fishing tool back to thesurface. With the device 2t) thus released from the tubing, the force onthe fishing tool will lift the device, the spacer pipe, and the bottompaclooli assembly upwardly, the seal assembly of the bottom pack-olfVassembly relaxing away from the tubing wall and the collet lingers ofthe bottom pack-oli assembly and the collar stop locl: disengaging sothat the entire assembly from the device 20 down through the bottompack-off assembly is lifted at the same time to the surface leaving thecollar stop lool; engaged in the tubing.

It will now be seen that a new and improved anchor-V ing and sealingdevice has been illustrated and described.

It will also be seen that the device includes pressureenergizedslips'which arerexpandable into tighter relationship with a surroundingengaged surface by a force acting in the same direction as a forceemployed to release the slips from the surrounding surface.

it will also be seen that the anchoring and sealing device includes aslip assembly having members with adjacent fragmentary conical surfaceswhich are fully seated with each other when the slips are expanded tothe maximum extent permitted by the surrounding surface with which theyare engaged.

It will also be seen that the fragmentary conical surfaces of thecomponents of the slip assembly are only partially seated with eachother when the slips are retracted to the normal position at which theyare located for inserting the device into and removing it from a tubingsection.

It will additionally be seen that each slip along with its slip operatorand slip shoe moves longitudinally as a unit during the initial phasesof locking the anchoring and sealing device within a tubing sectionwhile the slips are expanded laterally or radially away from the slipshoes during the latter phases of locking the device in the tubing.

It will also be seen that the slip assembly of the anchor ing andsealing device includes slip operators which are initially movedlongitudinally to simultaneously move each slip and its slip shoe alongan expander surface, are wedged longitudinally between each slip and itsshoe to laterally expand each slip away from its shoe to complete thelocking of the device with a surrounding surface, and whenlongitudinally withdrawn from wedging engagement between each slip andits shoe permits lateral retraction of the slips by hairpin retainersprings.

It will be further seen that the slip assembly of the anchoring andsealing device includes expandable slips which are supported on afrusto-conical expanding surface by laterally operable hairpin springsconnected between the slips and biased toward the expanding surface by alongitudinally operable spring.

it will additionally be seen that the anchoring and sealing devicesincludes a slip assembly having slips which are expanded into tighterengagement with a surrounding surface by an upward force on the mandrelsupporting the slip assembly and also are released by an upward forceapplied to the fishing neck of the device.

lt will be further seen that the anchoring and sealing device includesan annular sealing element which is initially mechanically expanded intosealing relationship with a surrounding surface and which subsequentlyis further expanded by liuid pressure applied either above or below thesealing element.

It will be also seen that the anchoring and sealing device may serve asa -component of a pack-off assembly for isolating leaks in a section oftubing to reestablish fluid flow through the tubing to bypass theleaking section.

it will also be seen that the anchoring and sealing device may functionto limit the upward movement of and seal above a well tool secured tothe lower end of the anchoring and sealing device.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, andchanges in the details of the construction illustrated may be made bythose skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims,without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: lmandrel means; externalannular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radialexpansion to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel meansresponsive to longitudinal force applied to said sealing means, saidsealing means being adapted to be initially mechanically expandedradially to engage said surface and subsequently to be further expandedhydraulically responsive and proportional to fluid pressure appliedlongitudinally to said seal element from above or below said element;and slip means supported on said mandrel means for releasably engagingsaid surrounding surface to hold said device against longitudinalmovement relative to said surface against a force applied to saidmandrel means in a first direction, said slip means being adapted toexpand into tighter locking relationship with said surface responsive toa force applied to said mandrel means in said first direction, said slipmeans including means adapted for longitudinal movement responsive to aforce applied in said first direction; and means supported on saidmandrel means for longitudinal movement for expanding and contractingsaid slip means and actuating said sealing means.

2. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: mandrel means; externalannular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radialexpansion responsive to longitudinal mechanical force and uid pressureapplied across said means from above or below said means to seal with asurface surrounding said mandrel means; slip means supported on saidmandrel means for releasably engaging said surrounding surface to holdsaid device against longitudinal movement in a first direction relativeto said surface, said slip means being adapted to be urged into tighterlocking engagement with said surrounding surface responsive to a forceon said mandrel means in said first direction; retainer means foryieldably holding said slip means radially inwardly around said mandrelmeans; and yieldable compressible means adapted to bias said slipretainer means in a direction to expand said slips.

3. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: mandrel means having aslip expander surface sloping inwardly in a first direction toward saidmandrel means; slip means supported on said expander surface forlongitudinal movement along said expander surface for releasablyengaging a surface surrounding said device to releasably hold saiddevice against longitudinal movement relative to said surroundingsurface; yieldable retainer means for holding said slip means on saidexpander surface; means operatively engaged with said retainer means forbiasing said slip means in a second longitudinal direction along saidexpander surface; slip operator means for expanding said slipsresponsive to a force applied in said second direction and forretracting said slips to release said device from said surroundingsurface responsive to a force applied in said first direction; andexternal annular sealing means adapted for radial expansion responsiveto longitudinal mechanical force and iiuid pressure applied across saidsealing means from above or below said means.

4. An anchoring and saling device comprising: mandrel means; externalannular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radialexpansion to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel means; saidmandrel means having a slip expander surface sloping in a firstdirection inwardly toward said mandrel means; longitudinally slidableslip means supported on said expander surface for releasably engagingsaid surface surrounding said mandrel means to lock said device againstlongitudinal movement relative to said surrounding surface; means forsupporting said slips on said expander surface and for biasing saidslips toward said expander surface; means for biasing said slips alongsaid expander surface in a second direction; slip operator meansoperatively engaged with said slip means for moving said slip means insaid second direction along said expander surface, said operator meansbeing movable in said first direction to release said slip means fromsaid surrounding surface; and sleeve means slida'bly supported aroundsaid mandrel means engageable with said slip operator means, said slipmeans, and said sealing means for expanding and releasing said sealingmeans and for expanding and contracting said slip means.

5. An anchoring and ealing device comprising: mandrel means having aslip expander surface sloping inwardly in a first direction; externalannular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radialexpansion to seal with a surrounding surface around said mandrel means;slip means supported on said expander surface for longitudinal movementrelative thereto to rcleasably engage said device with said surroundingsurface to hold said device against longitudinal movement relative tosaid surface; first spring means connected with said slip means forbiasing said slip means inwardly around said expander surface; secondspring means operatively engageable with said first spring means forbiasing said slip means along said expander surface away from saidmandrel means; operator means adapted for longitudinal movement relativeto Said mandrel means for moving said slip means along said expandersurface away from said mandrel means and releasing said slip means forinward movement toward said expander surface; and sleeve means slidablysupported on said mandrel means operatively engageable with said sealmeans for expanding end permitting retraction of said seal means andengageable with said operator means for expanding and retracting saidslip means.

6. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: mandrel means; externalannular sealing means supported on said mandrel means for radialexpansion to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel means, saidscaling means being adapted for mechanical expansion to effect aninitial fluid tight seal with said surrounding surface and for furtherexpansion responsive to a iiuid pressure differential applied acrosssaid sealing means from above or below said means; said mandrel meanshaving an expander surface sloping in a first direction toward saidmandrel means; slip means supported on said expander surface formovement in a first longitudinal direction for retracting said slips andfor movement in a second direction for expanding said slips intoreleasable engagement with said surrounding surface; spring retainermeans operatively engaged with said slip means for supporting said slipmeans on said expander surface and biasing said slip means inwardlytoward said surface; second spring means operatively engaged with saidfirst spring means for biasing said slip means along said expandersurface in said second direction; operator means engaged between saidslip means and said mandrel means for movement in said second directionto expand said slip means and for movement in said first direction torelease said slip means from locking relationship with said surroundingsurface; and sleeve means longitudinally slidably supported around saidmandrel means for engagement with said sealing means to expand saidsealing means and release said sealing means for contraction around saidmandrel means, said sleeve means being engageable with said operatormeans and said slip means for expanding and contracting said slip means.

7. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: a mandrel; an externalannular sealing element supported around said mandrel to seal with asurface surrounding said mandrel, said sealing element being adapted tobe initially mechanically expanded into fluid tight relationship withsaid surrounding surface and subsequently further expanded by a fluidpressure differential applied across said sealing element from above orbelow said element; said mandrel having an expander surface slopingtoward the longitudinal axis of said mandrel away from said sealingelement; a plurality of slip shoes supported around said mandrel forlongitudinal movement along said expander surface; a slip operatorsupported on each of said slip shoes for longitudinal movement relativethereto; a slip supported over each slip operator and slip shoe formovement relative to said operator and said shoe for releasably engagingsaid surrounding surface to hold said device against longitudinalmovement thereto; laterally operable retainer springs engaged betweensaid slips for holding said slips on said expander surface and biasingsaid slip, said operators, and said slip shoes toward said expandersurface; a longitudinally operable spring operatively associated withsaid slip retainer springs for biasing said slips along said expandersurface toward an expanded condition; and sleeve means supported on saidmandrel for longitudinal movement relative thereto, said sleeve meansbeing operatively engageable with said annular sealing element forexpanding said sealing element and releasing said elemcnt and beingengageable with said slip operators and said slips for expanding andcontracting said slips along said expander surface on said mandrel.

8. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: a mandrel having .anupwardly and inwardly sloping slip expander surface; an external annularsealing element supported on said mandrel below said expander surface; aplurality of slip shoes supported `on said expander surface forlongitudinal movement relative thereto; a slip operator supported oneach of said slip shoes for longitudinal movement with and relative toeach said slip shoe; a slip supported on each slip operator andcorresponding slip shoe; laterally operable retainer springs connectedbetween corresponding sides of said slips for retaining said slips withcorresponding slip operators and slip shoes on said expander surface; alongitudinally operable spring positioned around said mandrel having alower end engaged with said retainer springs for biasing said retainersprings downwardly relative to said expander surface; a sleevepositioned around said mandrel; means operatively connected with saidsleeve and engageable with said annular sealing element for expandingand permitting contraction of said sealing element around said mandrel,said sleeve having lateral windows for receiving said slips, slipoperators, and slip shoes to permit lateral expansion of said slipsthrough said window, the surface defining the upper end of each of saidwindows `being engageable with the upper end of the slip operatorpositioned within said window for moving said operator downwardlyrelative to said mandrel to expand the slip associated with saidoperator and the surface dening the lower end of each of said lateralwindows of said sleeve being engageable with the lower end of the slippositioned within said window for engaging and moving said slip upwardlyalong said expander surface to retract said slip; and a fishing neckslidably engaged over said mandrel, said fishing neck. being connectedwith the upper end of said sleeve and being provided with an internaldownwardly opening annular recess for receiving said longitudinallyoperable spring.

9. An anchoring and sealing device comprising: an upper mandrel section;a middle mandrel section connected on a lower end section of said uppermandrel section, said middle mandrel section having au external upwardlyand inwardly sloping frusto-conical expander surface along an upper endsection thereof; a lower mandrel section secured on a lower end sectionof said middle section, an external annular sealing element positionedon said middle and lower mandrel sections below said ex- -pandcrsurface, said sealing element being held against downward movement onsaid mandrel section and being adapted to be longitudinally compressedfor radial expension to seal with a surface surrounding said mandrel; anexpander sleeve slidably positioned on said middle mandrel section abovesaid sealing element for applying a longitudinal downward force to theupper end of said sealing element to expand said sealing element; aplurality of slip shoes supported around said upper mandrel section andsaid expander surface of said middle mandrel section for slidingmovement downwardly along said expander surface; a slip operatorsupported on each of said slip shoes for sliding movement relative tosaid slip shoe; a slip having an external toothed surface supported oneach of said slip operators and its associated slip shoe for releasablyengaging a surface surrounding said mandrels; laterally operable slipretainer springs secured between said slips for retaining each of saidslips and its associated slip operator Aand slip shoe on ysaid expandersurface and said upper mandrel, each of said springs extending betweencorresponding sides of said slips; a longitudinally operable springpositioned around said upper mandrel having a lower end engaged withsaid slip retainer springs for biasing said ret-ainer springsdownwardly; an operator sleeve positioned around ysaid 4ripper andmiddle mandrel sections adapted to move longitudinally over said mandrelsections; locking means operatively interconnecting the lower end ofsaid operator sleeve and said expander sleeve for expanding said sealingelement responsive to downward movement of said operator sleeve and forlocking said sealing element in expanded relationship after downwardmovement of said operator sleeve a predetermined distance; said operatorsleeve having lateral windows each of which receives one of said slipsand an associated slip operator and slip shoe to permit lateralexpansion and contraction of said slips I'around said mandrels throughsaid windows; a surface defining the upper end of each of said lateralwindows in said operator sleeve engageable with the upper end of theslip operator p-ositioned within said window for moving said slipoperator downwardly responsive to downward movement of said operatorsleeve; a lower surface defining the lower end of each of said lateralwindows engageab'le with the lower end of the slip positioned withinsaid window for moving each of said sli-ps upwardly and inwardly alongsaid expander surface responsive to upward movement of said sleeve; anda shing neck slidably positioned over said upper mandrel connected withthe upper end of said operator sleeve, said fishing neck having adownwardly opening internal annular recess to receive saidlongitudinally operable spring, the upper end of said spring beingengageable with a downwardly facing surface defining the upper end ofsaid internal annul-ar recess for compressing said spring responsive todownward movement of said fishing neck and said operator sleeve to vbiassaid slip retainer springs downwardly.

1f). An anchoring and sealing device in accordance with claim 9 whereinadjacent mating surfaces of said slip expander surface, said slip shoes,said slip operators and said slips are frusto-conical in shape andformed to fully mate each with the other when said slips are fullyexpanded into engagement with a surface surrounding said device and saidsurfaces are mismated from each other when said slips are in retractedposition.

11. An anchoring device comprising: a mandrel having an externalupwardly and inwardly sloping frusto-conical expander surface, saidmandrel having an upper section having a substantially cylindrical outersurface above and connecting with said expander surface; a plurality ofslip shoes supported around said expander surface for longitudinalmovement along said surface between a retracted and an expandedposition, each of said slip shoes having an upper inner fragmentarycylindrical surface connecting with a lower inner fragmentaryfrusta-conical surface, said fragmentary cylindrical surface mating withsaid cylindrical surface on said mandrel above said expander surfacewhen each of said slip shoes is in retracted position, said innerfrusto-conical surface of each of said slip shoes mating with saidexpander surface when each of said slip shoes is in expanded position,each of said slip shoes having a lower end outwardly extending flangeprovided with a longitudinally and radially extending recess forreceiving a slip lug; a slip operator positioned on each of said slipshoes for longitudinal movement relative to said mandrel and said slipshoe, each said slip operator having an upper internal cylindricalsurface adapted to mate with said cylindrical surface on said mandrelabove said expander surface, each said slip operator having a lowerinner fragmentary frusto-conical surface adapted to mate with the outerfrusto-conical surface of said slip shoe when said slip operator is in afully expanded position, each said slip operator having an outerfragmentary frusto-conical surface, each said slip operator having anupper end outwardly extending ilange, said flange having lug endsections each protruding beyond the adjacent edge of said slip operator;a slip positioned for longitudinal movement on the outer surface of eachof said slip shoes and a supporting slip opcrator positioned partiallybetween said slip shoe and Said slip, each said slip having an outersubstantially cylindrical toothed surface and an inner fragmentaryfrusto-conical surface mating with the outer surface of the supportingslip operator when said slip operator and said slip are in fullyexpanded positions with said slip operator wedged downwardly betweensaid slip shoe and said slip, each said slip having a lower end lngsection received within said longitudinally and radially extendingrecess in said lower end flange on the supporting slip shoe, said lugsection on said slip having an inwardly extending lip engaged over thelower end of said supporting slip shoe within said recess of said lowerend flange of said shoe interlocking said shoe and said slip to limitrelative longitudinal movement between said shoe and said slip;laterally operalble slip retainer springs interconnected betweencorresponding sides of said slips extending laterally across saidmandrel for holding said slips around said mandrel biasing said slipsinwardly toward said expander surface and said cylindrical surface onsaid mandrel above said expander surface; a tubular fishing neckslidably engaged over said mandrel above said expander surface, saidfishing neck having an internal downwardly opening annular recess aroundsaid cylindrical surface on said mandrel abovek Said expander surface;each of said retainer springs having an upper end apex section extendinginto said annular recess of said fishing neck; a longitudinally operablespring positioned within said internal annular recess of said fishingneck, the upper end of said longitudinally operable spring being engagedwith an upper end surface of said fishing neck dening the upper end ofsaid internal annular recess of said fishing neck and the lower end ofsaid longitudinally operable spring being engaged with the upper endapex sections of said retainer springs for biasing said springsdownwardly; a tubular operator sleeve supported concentrically aroundsaid mandrel engaged Valong an upper end section with a lower endsection of said fishing neck, said operator sleeve extending downwardlyaround said mandrel below the lower end of said expander surface on saidmandrel, said operator sleeve having lateral windows each receiving andpermitting lateral expansion of one slip shoe, slip operator, and slipunit to permit lateral expansion and contraction of said slips forreleasably engaging a surface around said anchoring device; saidoperator sleeve having a surface defining the upper end of each of saidlateral windows, said surface being engageable with the upper end of theoperator sleeve positioned within said window for moving said operatorsleeve longitudinally downwardly; said operator sleeve having surfacesdefining lateral upper end side edges of each of said lateral windowsforming lateral end recesses for receiving said laterally extending lugson each of said operator members for holding each of said operatormemlbers within its lateral window against longitudinal movementrelative to said operator sleeve; said operator sleeve having surfacesdefining the lower end of each of said lateral windows for engaging thelower end of each of said lower end lugs on each of said slips formoving each of said slips longitudinally upwardly responsive to upwardmovement of said operator sleeve for retracting said slips; and lockingmeans interconnected between said operator sleeve and said mandrel belowsaid expander surface for releasably holding said operator sleeve at alower end position for holding said slips in radially expandedpositions.

12. A well tool in accordance with claim 11, including an externalannular radially expandable Seal supported around said mandrel belowsaid operator sleeve, said seal being expandable and lockable in anexpanded position responsive to longitudinal movement of said operatorsleeve.

13. An anchoring device for wells comprising: mandrel means; slip meanssupported on said mandrel means for releasably engaging a Surfacesurrounding said anchoring device to hold said anchoring device againstlongitudinal movement in a first direction relative to said surface;said slip means being adapted to be urged into tighter lockingengagement with said surrounding surface responsive to a force on saidmandrel in said first direction; retainer means for yieldably holdingsaid slip means radially inwardly around said mandrel means; expandermeans on said mandrel and cooperating expander means carried by saidslip retainer means engageable with said slip means to expand said slipsto locking engagement with said surrounding surface; and yieldablecompressible means adapted to bias said slip retainer means in adirection to expand said slips.

14. An anchoring device for wells comprising: mandrel means; saidmandrel means having an expander surface sloping inwardly in a firstdirection toward said mandrel means; slip means supported on saidexpander surface for movement in said first longitudinal direction forretraeting said slips and for movement in a second longitudinaldirection for expanding said slips into releasable engagement with asurface surrounding said device; first spring means operatively engagedwith said slip means for supporting said slip means on said expandersurface and biasing said slip means inwardly toward said surface; secondspring means operatively engaged with said first spring means forbiasing said slip means along said expander surface in said seconddirection; slip operator means engaged between said slip means and saidmandrel means for movement in said second direction to expand said slipmeans and for movement in said first direction to release said slipmeans from locking relationship with said surrounding surface; andsleeve means longitudinally slidably supported around said mandrel meansfor engagement with said operator means and said slip means forexpanding and contracting said slip means, said slip means being urgedinto tighter relationship with said surrounding surface by an upwardforce on said mandrel means and being releasable from said surroundingsurface by an upward force on said sleeve means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,384,192 9/1945 Otis et al.166-124 2,814,348 11/1957 Schram 166--140 2,884,073 4/1959 BostOCk etal. 166-217 2,901,046 8/1959 Webber 166-140 X 2,942,665 6/1960 Davis etal. 166-215 X 2,944,604 7/1960 Baker 166-137 X 3,057,407 10/1962 Grimmer166-214 X CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

DAVID H. BROWN, Examiner-

